plate no. 9437
Self-Portrait
Marietta Robusti, 1580
oil, canvasMannerism (Late Renaissance)self-portraitportraitfiguredressmusical instrumentsheet musicpearl necklace
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding subtle value shifts to create form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose, the instrument, and the main shapes.
- step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, dress, and instrument.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the lace and folds.
- step 06
Add details to the musical instrument and sheet music.
- step 07
Refine the facial features, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark background. Mix white with a touch of raw umber for the dress.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle value shifts that create form.
- →Getting lost in the details too early in the process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to establish the background color.
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